Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers with Beef and Rice

These slow cooker stuffed peppers are a comforting, easy-to-make meal packed with seasoned ground beef, tender rice, and rich marinara sauce. As they cook slowly, the peppers become soft and flavorful while the filling stays hearty and satisfying. It’s a classic family-style dish that works just as well for a cozy weeknight dinner as it does for meal prep.

Recipe summary

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 hours
Total time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
5 bell peppers, tops removed and reserved
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz), divided
1 small white onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
- oregano can be used instead

Instructions

1. Cook the meat

Place a skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain off any excess fat.

2. Make the filling

Dice the tops of the peppers and place them in a medium bowl. Add the cooked beef, rice, 1 cup of the marinara sauce, diced onion, salt, garlic powder, thyme, and tarragon. Stir everything together until well combined.

3. Fill the peppers

Spoon the beef and rice mixture into the hollowed bell peppers. If you have any filling left over, spread it in the bottom of the slow cooker.

4. Add the sauce

Pour the remaining marinara sauce into the slow cooker, over and around the filling.

5. Slow cook

Arrange the stuffed peppers in the slow cooker. Try to keep them upright, though they may lean or tip slightly as they cook.

Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 5 hours. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking so the heat stays consistent.

Optional cheese topping

If you want a cheesy finish, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella over each pepper during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Cover again until melted.